Skeleton structure for the production of earthenware.



E. L. JESTER.

SKELETON STRUGTURE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF EARTHENWARB. APPLICATION TILED SEPT. 20, 1909.

954,029. Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

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EUGENE I1. JESTER, OF EAST LIVERPOOL, OHIO.

. SKELETON STRUCTURE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF EARTHENWARE.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

Application filed September 20, 1909. Serial No. 518,526.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE L. J ESTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Liverpool, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skeleton Structures for the Production of Earthenware, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in skeleton structure for the production of earthenware designed to be used in connection with kilns of any desired construction and the objects of my invention are to provide a structure designed to carry earthenware and to space the same so that the sur faces of the various pieces of earthenware will be uniformly exposed to heat.

A further obj cct is to prevent the warping of the metal constituting the skeleton structure, which last object is brought about by the peculiar construction of the various bats and props which go to makeup the skeleton structure proper.

I attain these objects together with other objects readily apparent to those skilled in the art, by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section illustrating the bats and props properly arranged within a kiln. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of one of the props. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in line 33, Fig. 5. Fig. st is a sectional view taken on line 4.4l, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a top view showing portions of a number of bats properly arranged with reference to each other and illustrating a prop in transverse section.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

In the accompanying drawing, 1 represents a kiln, which within itself forms no specific part of the present invention, except that to carry out the objects and purposes of the present invention, a kiln of some con struction must necessarily be present.

The bats 2 are substantially of the form shown in the drawing. It will be understood that these bats should be of rectangular form and of such a size that they can be conveniently placed in position with reference to each other and easily removed from time to time. The bats 2 are provided with any desired number of hollow spaced extensions 3, which spaced extensions are properly tapered as illustrated in Fig. 3. These hollow spaced extensions are for the purpose of carrying the earthenware designed to be placed upon the bats.

In use the skeleton structure is built up in such a manner that a series of what might be termed floors are produced, which floors are properly spaced from each other by means of props 4:, which props are formed of a length to correspond with the space between the various bats constituting the various floors. I-Ieretofore it has been customary to form the bats and props of solid castings. This has been found to be objectionable, owing to the various thicknesses of the metal of the bats and props, which causes the same to become warped by expansion and contraction. It is well understood that the metal constituting the bats and props must be subject to great heat during the time the earthenware is being burned or enameled as the case may be. In order to prevent the warping of the bats "and props they should be of uniform thickness or as nearly so as possible so that the expansion and contraction will be uniform thereby preventing the warping of the metal. In order to prevent this warping I form the props a hollow and the extensions designed to carry the earthenware hollow. It will be understood that the extensions 3 must necessarily be joined together at their bases; but the metal joining saidextensions should be substantially twice the thickness of the metal constituting the shells of the extensions 3. By forming the metal joining the extensions about twice the thickness of the shells of the extension, the expansion and contraction, will be uniform throughout the length and breadth of any given bat, thereby preventing warping of the bats by reason of the expansion and contraction of the metal.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a modified form from the props shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The modified form shown in Fig. 4 is to be used in connection with the props-illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, but owing to the fact that the prop shown in Fig. 4 rests upon the bottom bf the kiln and that the series of props in the bottom tier must necessarily carry the entire weight of the skeleton structure together with the earthenware it is of importance that the bases of such props be formed so that they will not be liable to injury or crush the structure upon which they rest. This is of importance, owing to the fact that below the floor of the kiln are a number of flues such as 8 and the bases should be so arranged that they will rest directly above the flue partitions 9 by which arrangement a substantial foundation is provided for the support of the entire structure and the earthenware carried thereby.

In order to prevent the bases 5 of the lower tiers of props 6 from warping they are formed hollow as illustrated in Fig. 4:, thereby reducing the weight and at the same time maintain substantially the same thickness of metal throughout the entire base and prop.

The props 4; are provided with the flanged ends 7 and the tops of the props 6 are provided with the flanged ends 10 corresponding substantially with the flanges 7 These flanges are for the purpose of providing suflicient surface, first, to prevent the props from tilting and second, to provide sufficient surface to rest the corners of the bats upon the upper flanges of the various props, it being understood that where four bats come together as illustrated in Fig. 5 sufficient surface is provided to properly support the adjacent corners of the four bats, but it will be understood that a sufficient number of props are to be properly located to support the various bats in true horizontal position.

Having fully described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a skeleton structure for the production of earthenware, a series of bats provided with spaced hollow extensions, the bases of said hollow extensions joined together by metal having a thickness about twice the thickness of the shells of the extensions, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a skeleton structure for the production of earthenware, a series of props adapted to support bats, said props formed 1101- low and the shells of the same being substantially of uniform thickness throughout their length, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a skeleton structure of the class described, a series of bats and a series of props, the bats provided with hollow extensions having shells of substantially uniform thickness and the extensions joined at their bases, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

EUGENE L. JESTER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. MJLLER, JOHN H. SPoNsELBY. 

